Hello and happy Saturday, friend.Let's rewind to 1995. Life was simpler: Pagers were cutting-edge, Blockbuster ruled Friday nights and getting online meant that unforgettable dial-up screech.
👑 Meanwhile, one company made history by selling the first digital camera to the public. So who snapped the future first? Was it: A) Nikon, B) Kodak, C) Sony or D) Canon? Put on your trivia crown. Find out at the bottom!
🛡️ Your money's only as safe as your passwords. That's why I use a password manager I trust with military-grade security and unlimited storage that works on every device you own. It even builds unbreakable passwords for you. Save 52% using my special link, just $1.43 a month. One smart move, total peace of mind.
🤳 Tap that star or drag me into your Primary inbox, so I don't go ghost in your Spam folder. — Kim
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TODAY'S DEEP DIVE
Scroll-stopping swag
Image: Kim Komando
Yup, that's me during my '90s big hair infomercial days as the Komputer Tutor, teaching America how to conquer their computers one VHS tape at a time.
Before TikTok and Instagram, there were late-night infomercials, and wow, we bought it all. Remember the ThighMaster? The Flowbee? The Clapper? "Set it and forget it!"
Fast-forward to today, and social media's the new infomercial.
But for every gem, there are a hundred gadgets that don't work or break after a week. I sorted through the chaos to find the internet-famous products that actually live up to the hype. Even better? They make fantastic gifts, for others or yourself. You've earned it.
📽️ 1. Portable mini projector ($45, 59% off) Connects with your phone to turn any room into a cinema (even your backyard).
💡 2. Clip-on selfie ring light ($12, 29% off) Basically, it's studio lighting that clips to your phone and fits in your pocket.
👕 3. Shirt folding board ($17, 26% off) Breeze through laundry day. Folds your shirts faster than retailers on Black Friday.
🍝 4. Clip-on pots & pans strainer ($8.50, 29% off) Silicone grip = no slipping, no mess. Plus, it saves you from washing extra dishes.
🍽️ 5. Microwave splatter cover ($20, 35% off) This lid shields your microwave from messy spaghetti sauce explosions.
🍓 6. Strawberry slicer cup ($9) Like a tiny food processor that makes prep way more Instagrammable.
📺 7. TV LED backlight ($40, 20% off) These cuttable strips turn your basic TV setup into a full-blown light show.
📱 8. Scrolling ring remote ($19, 37% off) Scroll through your feed without touching your screen. Perfect for the gym.
🔌 9. USB four-in-one charging cable ($10, 38% off) Works with iPhones and Androids. Lights up so you'll find it in the dark.
🐶 10. Reusable pet hair remover ($25, 11% off) Got a furry roommate? This roller will put your old sticky one to shame. Warning: oddly satisfying to use.
📈This list could've been twice as long, but I had to stop somewhere. The rest of the trending gear (like a great mini fan that's almost half off) is waiting for you on my Amazon shop.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Do you make it easy for hackers?
Still reusing the same passwords? You might as well put up a flashing neon sign that says, "Come on in!" Weak or reused passwords are one of the easiest ways for hackers to get into your accounts…and a lot of websites still don't require strong ones.
Once they're in… your personal info, bank accounts, emails, everything, is fair game.
That's why I use NordPass. It stores all your logins safely behind one strong master password. Even if someone grabs your device, they can't get in.
I talk to a listener whose farming business was cloned by fraudsters online. Got laid off? Here's why CEOs are bragging about it. Plus: why SEO is dead, ChatGPT's new tech support agent and how to resell your unused vacation.
🛰️ Scammers in low orbit: Facebook is crawling with phony ads offering "lifetime Starlink service" for as low as $127. Now real Starlink service starts at $120 per month, with no such thing as a lifetime package. These ads link to fake websites that mimic Starlink's branding but have sketchy URLs, typos and unsecure payment pages. The only thing connecting here is your credit card to a scammer. Don't fall for it.
An app without a cause: I don't see the point. Jack Dorsey (yep, the Twitter guy and CEO of Block) just dropped Bitchat, a free chat app that doesn't need Wi-Fi, servers or a login. It runs on Bluetooth, so it's you and whoever's nearby within about 30 feet. Kind of like passing notes, but way nerdier.
🧠 School is in session: OpenAI's new tudy mode turns ChatGPT into that one friend who won't tell you the ending of a movie "because you need to experience it." It scaffolds info, checks if you're actually learning, and gently refuses to do your homework unless you keep asking, in which case it'll cave, just like us all.
Hotline bling: The Google Pixel 6a just added "pyromaniac" to its resume. After a mandatory July software patch meant to reduce overheating, at least one updated phone straight-up caught fire while charging overnight. On the bright side, Pixel 6as can help preheat your room.
📺 Skip the fluff: YouTube's Jump Ahead AI feature is finally rolling out on TV apps. Previously mobile-only, it now uses watch data to hop over boring chunks of videos. You'll see a dot on the progress bar and can jump with your remote. Premium paid accounts only, of course.
👟 Heel, yeah: Skechers just launched Find My Skecher, a $50 kids' pair of sneakers with a hidden AirTag pocket in the heel. Now you can track your kid or their missing left shoe right in Apple's Find My app. The AirTag slips under a cushy, breathable insole, totally out of sight. Such a great idea!
DAILY TECH UPDATE
Apple fakes it with iOS 26
A see-through screen can't hide the truth: Apple's AI is still way behind Android's Gemini.
Your ankles, knees, hips… They all depend on collagen to stay stable and supported. As we age, our natural collagen levels drop fast, especially after 50.
That's why I take NativePath Collagen every single day. It's like nutritional backup for the structure under your skin.
Whether I'm walking the dogs, hopping on stage, doing Pilates or catching a flight, I want my joints to move like they used to. This one small thing helps keep me going strong.
👋 Weekend chores are more fun with company. Catch my award-winning weekend radio show on a station near you. Not sure where and when? Enter your ZIP code into my handy-dandy station finder, or get my show's podcast to listen on your schedule.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: iPhone and Android both let you copy text from a photo. Just tap and hold the text, e.g., menus, signs, screenshots. Boom. Instant clipboard magic.
Delete YouTube history:Sign into YouTube on your PC and click the three-dot menu (top left). Tap History, then select Clear all watch history on the right side of the screen. You can also choose Pause watch history to stop it from tracking future videos. PSA: This will also change your recommendations.
📄 Simplify legal docs with AI: Got a lease or contract you don't understand? Paste it into ChatGPT and ask for a plain-English breakdown. You can also ask what specific sections mean or how they might affect you. If it's serious business, call a lawyer, not a robot.
Get better results on Facebook Marketplace: Tired of seeing stuff that sold weeks ago? Go to Marketplace > Filters > Sort by and choose Date listed: Newest first. Then under Filters > Date listed, toggle on Last 7 days. Oh, and if the seller's profile says they joined in 2025, it's probably a scam.
🌤️ Weather shortcut in Chrome: On desktop, type "weather" in the address bar to see a mini forecast right away. You don't even have to press Enter. Want a sky report somewhere else? Just add a location, like "weather Arizona." Spoiler: It's hot. 🥵
👉 Running a business is tough. Download NetSuite's free guide, "Navigating Global Trade: 3 Insights for Leaders." It's packed with smart, no-nonsense tips to keep you ahead of the game, avoid costly mistakes and spot new opportunities in today's fast-moving marketplace.*
BY THE NUMBERS
$2.3 million What it now takes to be considered "wealthy" in the U.S. That's down from $2.5M last year. Still, unless you've got a trust fund or a crypto time machine, you're probably just "comfortable."
One diet soda a day Can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by 38%. The kicker? That's actually higher than regular sugary drinks, which come in at 23%. Why? Researchers think artificial sweeteners confuse the body and mess with gut bacteria and insulin response. So yeah, maybe not the healthier choice after all.
2.8x More likely Gen Z is to treat travel like a dating app. Priceline's 2025 Trend Report says Gen Z's rolling their suitcases straight into romance. If you're going to be single, might as well do it somewhere with cocktails, not push notifications.
WHAT THE TECH?
Image: Home Depot
Halloween in August? Yup, Home Depot's famous 12-foot Skelly is back, but it's his new 6.5-foot counterpart, Ultra Skelly, that's gone high-tech.
For $279, Ultra Skelly connects to your phone via Bluetooth, letting you control his LED eye colors, trigger five creepy phrases and even speak through him in real time using a companion app.
That's right, you can heckle trick-or-treaters or deliver spooky monologues from the comfort of your couch. It's haunted house meets ventriloquist dummy meets smart home gadget.
💀 You know, I used to have a skeleton of jokes, but now my supply is bone-dry. Guess I wasn't that femurous. (lol)
LOGGING OUT …
💡 Answer: B) Kodak. Despite inventing the digital camera tech back in 1975(!), they hesitated to embrace it, fearing it would eat into their film profits. It did. Kodak filed for bankruptcy in 2012, proof that clinging to the past can pixelate the future.
🔐 One password to rule them all: Tired of forgetting logins or using the same one everywhere (you know who you are)? This is the password manager I trust to keep everything safe and in one place across all your devices. Right now, it's just $1.43 a month. Total steal. Grab it while it lasts!
Tomorrow, I'm cracking open the secret society of home swaps. Budget travel just got suspiciously bougie. And I'll also show you what was wrong with Friday's AI photo.
Hey, thanks for letting me ride shotgun on your tech journey. It's such a blast being here with you! — Kim
Companies noted with an asterisk (*) sponsor my national radio show. Also, as an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
This newsletter and its content are intended for informational purposes only. They are provided without warranty of any kind. You shouldn't construe anything provided here as legal, health, medical, technical, tax, investment, financial or any other kind of advice.
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